Time for the record to be broken I guess.

Can't see italy win this, unless by PK. This italy can't score even if they played till the next day.

Not with balotelli on the field at least.

 

if de rossi cant play..and chiellini unlikely to play i cant see us creating enough against this german team which is quite frankly the scariest german team since they were west germany.

 

All the odds are stacked against us.

Germany are a quality side, well rested with two days extra recovery time, a fantastic squad with options all over the park, especially in attack.

However, they really haven't been tested in this tournament. We will be hard to beat.

 

Germany surprised me slightly against Greece. However, I'm still not utterly convinced that their squad is as good as the media say it is.

Just don't let Lahm take shots on goal and all will be fine.

 

german break argentina last wc

and out last 4p

don't afraid them

I think Germany's long break cause match-sense problem in this match:strong:

 

I don't care anymore...

Semi-final with this team is amazing! A Final would be out of this world!

Prandelli has done an excellent job...he changes things up and has gotten us playing the usual direct Italian style but now we try and keep possession more.

Our finishing is really poor...we are really missing G.Rossi...

If we are to beat Germany we'll need to make good on any chances...it's a tough ask but enitely possible.

 

We've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

This Germany side is very good, they've got great players in every position, and have guys on the bench who would start for any other country.

But if they want to get to the final, they'll have to do it the hard way now. Forza Italia. :thumbsup:

 

gaga mattia destro is a clever striker who reminds who has a bit of diego milito in him..i felt he would have been good to have in the final 23.

 

i agreed he just better finisher than balotelli at leastp

 

Given that we played 120min and have only 4 days to recover, I think Prandelli needs to rotate the squad. Its actually a bigger risk to use many of the same players.

I think Cassano needs to start from the bench in the next game. His fitness is just not there and I can see him being much more dangerous coming off the bench in the 2nd half.

I would be tempted to start Giovinco in the next match with Balotelli up front.

As for midfield. De Rossi may may not make it and we have to assume that he doesn't make it.

Tiago Motta will start in Warsaw that is certain i think. Pirlo will start and I am not sure about Marchisio. I would be tempted to use Nocerino and Montolivo in midfield with Pirlo and Motta.

Bonucci, Barzagli and Balzaretti will start. Although I have no idea about right back because Maggio is suspended and Abate might not be able to recover. Ogbonna is talked about as an emergency right back.

If Chiellini can make the Germany game, I would have no hesitation to go to a back 3 and have Giaccherini take right wing back and Balzaretti left wing back - but I think that is unlikely.

If it were me then, it would be this:

4-3-1-2: Buffon, Ogbonna, Barzagli, Bonucci, Balzaretti, Motta, Pirlo, Nocerino, Montolivo, Giovinco, Balotelli.

2nd half subs: Cassano or Diamanti for Giovinco (depending on whether we are chasing the game then its Cassano), Di Natale for Balotelli, Marchisio for one of the midfielders.

 

i think abate will be alright..he ran like a madman from the bench to celebrate with the team so that tells me enough.
I actualy would play diamanti over giovinco whom i feel was waste of time bringing here. Diamanti has epic set pieces and hes the only italian player id give the shoot at will option too.

 

I rate Gio, but i can't think of a worse mismatch than playing him against Germany, who are probably one of the tallest and physically imposing sides in the competition.

I'm not saying he can't do well and that he can't overcome this, but it's too big a risk in such a big game. Cassano didn't play well but i don't think we have a better option at the moment, just play him a half and give DN the remaining one.

I would bench Monto (who credit to him, had a decent account of himself) for Motta, and put Nocerino for De Rossi if he can't recover in time. Marchisio is a candidate for being bench certainly, but i can't help but feel he keeps things ticking in midfield even if he seemed invisible against Ireland and England. I think i would favour a more physical side against Germany, try to stop them from playing their passing game so i think we need all three of Nocerino, Marchisio and Motta.

The main concern for me was Balza, he had a bad time against Glen Johnson defensively, and he'll need to buck up against Germany for sure.

 

A lot of being suggest Diamanti. But, while I think he has good qualities, he is not a striker. With Diamanti on the field, we are not playing 2 up front. The formation in reality is quite different - more like a 4-3-2-1

But then again, against Germany that could be an effective formation.

-------------------Buffon---------------------

Abate?----Barzagli---Chiellini----Balzaretti

--------Motta----Pirlo-----Nocerino---------

-----------Montolivo-----Diamanti-----------

-------------------Balotelli--------------------

Marchisio needs to be rested for this game. Montolivo may be tired but has played a lot less in this tournament compared to Marchisio. Key fatigue risk is Pirlo.

 

lol... I took one look at this... I was like... ya know what, I like it.

Look at the username...

We must think alike. I like this idea. A lot.

 

solid team catenaccio...approved

 

So difficult, but a real credit to the team for getting here with all the upheaval, injuries and frankly, some suspect call ups and coaching. Expectations for the match are low, can't see us (Pirlo) recovering from 120 mins. of running, but having said that, we play best when expectations are low. Maybe I'm being too tough on Prandelli, because after all, he did rebuild this and switched formations when he had to. He's very practical. But his substitutions and attacking tactics have been unpredictable, a 5 or a 5.5, this tournament. So it will be interesting to see what he does vs. Germany.

 

There's no reason to start Diamanti. He just doesn't have enough quality to start.

Also concerned with bringing back Chiellini when Bonucci and Barzagli have had better tournaments.

I would stick to Cassano (quality) and Balotelli (holding up the ball) in this start since we will likely continue playing counter. I just don't think we would be well with Di Natale who can't hold the ball like Balotelli.

And I'm pretty dissappointed Borini hasn't been tested yet.

About De Rossi injury, I'm actually not concerned. For the 4-3-1-2, Nocerino can cover more ground and he should be fine.

 

diamanti is good bro..best left foot in the euros

 

No matter what happens (well unless we get completely thrashed by Germany), this has been a decent tournament and Prandelli deserves credit for taking a team this far. I was petrified after the Russian friendly defeat before the tournament.

So we have nothing to lose.

So, out of curiosity guys, based on what you know about Germany in this tournament...do they have any weaknesses?! They score heaps of goals but they have conceded a few too.

 

we defeated quality sides like ireland and england this tournament.and matched well vs top dogs like croatia and spain.germany will be cakewalk I say

 

Germany are far from invincible, with enough pressure exerted in the right way and areas, the defense can and will buckle. But they are brimming with quality, it will take something special to beat them especially if they continue the form they've been on.

We will need top games from everyone, the strikers included. I really think DN should start this.

 

I'm disappointed the board buys into the nonsense about Giovinco being too small. If that were the case, he would not have been one of the best performers this season. Are we saying that Serie A defenders are all midgets? He even robbed the ball off Lucio. He was also a constant threat against the big Americans. I do agree with pirri that if there is no intention to play him, why bring him? Same with Borini. Almost so with Di Natale.
Diamanti is untested. There was so much space yesterday it's hard to see clearly. I'd still put him as TQ instead of Motta/Montolivo both of whom we know can't play in that role.
We will be defending and playing counter, and Cassano/Balotelli are both too slow and deliberate, always taking 3 touches when there is time for one. We will be playing for penalties or hoping for a lucky bounce off the post.
I don't see this German team as invincible. They were slack at times against Germany. Our biggest problem is the unwillingness to try a different attacking formation.

 

There's only 3 subs unfortunately...

Cassano is never gonna last a full game so 1/3 slot is already gone when you pick him. Cassano has the ability to make something happen...it's hard to drop him. The same goes for Balotelli...

I don't think Prandelli is over-looking Giovinco he knows he has that same ability to change a game as Cassano or Balo...

We could have really used Di Natale/Borini or Destro lastnight upfront as Balotelli is not a goal poacher.

 

A little over a year ago we played almost the same starting eleven of this German team in Germany and tied them 1-1. The bad part of the game is Germany dominated possession and Rossi scored for us. Still we can definitely do it! Their best players are the midfielders like Scweinsteiger (or Kross if he is injured) and Ozil. They hold on the ball well and are exceptional at crosses.

Side note, Chiellini is back training with the team again!

Maggio suspended.

We will have to wait on news of DDR sciatic problem and Abate's leg muscle injury.

 

Despite De Rossi being important i think Motta is good enough to replace if needed, the defence is bigger issue, cause there is real q now, if to play 3-5 or 4 back. With Chiellini returning and Abate injured/Maggio out it makes sense to play 3, but i am not sure if its ideal against Germany. Also pay in mind we have less days to rest and more playing time played for Bonucci especially. Barzagli cant be too tired cause he didnt play in groupstage.

 

I dont know what we should do here until the formation is posted. I mean if DDR and Cassano dont play we're screwed. Under no circumstance we should not start DiNatale. Idc if he didnt play against England. DiNatale does not create space and is only really good with Udinese. He scores only if left by himself. DiNatale is small and weak and as bad as balo is in finishing, i rather have balo. Montolivo I've said b4 the start of the england game is AWFUL, he sucks terrible i rather have Nocerino in there. Its nice to have back chiellini but if no DDR and Cassano we're screwed. CESARE PLS OO PLS NO MONTOLIVO AND DINATALE. I rather see borini than diNatale

 

DiNatale is small and weak and as bad as balo is in finishing, i rather have balo.

LOL that is the stupidest thing I have heard here, and there has been some dumb quotes a long the way. Even Cassano and Balotelli admitted Di Natale puts goals away like no other which neither Cassano nor Balotelli have been doing consistently. If he is so small and weak then how the hell did he score a wonder goal against Ramos and Pique, one of the best CB pairs in the world alone with probably the best goalie of Casillas. Also if that Irish player did not clear ball of line, he would of scored one of the best goals of tourney. Please shut up with these dumb quotes, the reason he does not start is because of his age and recurring knee injury. BTW if you think he can only score goals for Udinese (80 in past 3 seasons btw), check his Italy goal stats and compare him to our other strikers. Not too shabby. Please just shut up with anti Di Natale rants when he doesn't get nearly the mins Cassano and Balo get.

 

Calm down, DN didnt play against England and is therefore 100% fresh compared to Balo who has played 30+ more minutes than all Germans.

 

DiNatale can be fresh and be 100% hes terrible and will be a non factor. You think marchisio was a non factor watch toto in this match against germany.

 

I don't see the importance of Cassano to our setup. That's because I don't buy the small and weak thing. Isn't Cassano also short? Aside from the substitution issue, I also find that with both Cassano and Balo on the field, we lack a striker who is quick and quick-witted. It's really frustrating to see both of them sitting on the ball all the time. I'd prefer seeing one of them replaced by Di Natale or Giovinco, both of whom are quicker and proven scorers. Between the two, I'd keep Balo because he's been great holding the ball. We also need someone who can dribble the ball into the box.

 

I rather see giovinco than DiNatale if thats the case

 

Balotelli and Di Natale would be my pair for this game. Balotelli and Cassano have PROVEN they can't score goals with each other in the tournament. One must be benched, and Balotelli has a lot more game to him now than Cassano.

 

Calmate amigo. Agree with the desire to see DN start, I'm sure we will see him this time.
Would rather see Gio than Balo and Cassano play a whole game, will actually echo what Catenaccio said about Gio's size might be an advantage against Germany.

Keep reading that schweinsteiger may miss this due to injury.